Questions or comments? Please feel free to email the volunteer department at volunteers@nourishinghopechi.org.

Hello Volunteers! Happy December and happy almost-New Year! We truly can't thank you enough for generously giving your time, energy, sweat (we see you, heavy lifters!), and smiles throughout the year. You're the reason so many of our neighbors feel fed, nourished and cared for.

A neighbor recently shared that Nourishing Hope is "a wonderful caring place filled with hardworking, caring people✨."

YOU are those hardworking, caring people. Thank you!

VOLUNTEER ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPDATES

THE LIFT HEAVY FOR HOPE COMPETITION IS ENDING SOON...

There is still time to join a few Heavy Lifting volunteer shifts before the end of December and put yourself in contention for winning the competition! Check out our final leaderboard before we announce the winner in January.

WANT TO RUN THE 2025 CHICAGO MARATHON?

Join #TeamNourishingHope to receive a guaranteed entry into the fastest marathon in the world! Please reach out to Kyle Friedler at kyle.friedler@nourishinghopechi.org for more information about joining the team.

HOST A HYGIENE ITEM DRIVE!

The giving season may be nearing the end, but our clients are still in great need of hygiene items. You can find the list of currently most needed items here and drop your donation off at the Hub or HQ!

VOLUNTEER NEEDS

HOME DELIVERY SOUTH AND WEST – SOUTH LOOP

Support distributing groceries at a high-rise senior building (1440 S. Indiana Ave).

🚗 Carpooling from our HQ is an option!

The shift involves some heavy lifting and door-to-door delivery.

ONLINE MARKET HEAVY LIFTING

Skip the gym and help prepare for our Online Market Distribution at the Hub on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.!

Part of the shift will involve working in the cooler/freezer.

THE HUB HEAVY LIFTING & VOLUNTEER DRIVER ASSISTANT

HEAVY LIFTING

Help us load and unload vans, build and wrap pallets and shelve boxes, move pallets around using pallet jacks, and keep the warehouse running.

Most boxes weigh 50 lbs or less.

VOLUNTEER DRIVER (RIDE ALONG) ASSISTANT

Do you like exploring the city?

Ride along with a Nourishing Hope staff drivers to assist with donation pick-ups from local retail partners, Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.! The shift involves frequent bending, lifting (25 - 50 lbs.), and sitting.

HIGHLIGHTS AND STORIES

HOLIDAY JOY FOR OUR NEIGHBORS!

Our volunteers helped us with the toy distributions on Tuesday, December 10, and Tuesday, December 17. Thanks to your support, we were able to distribute toys to 580 kids this year!

We asked a couple of our volunteers to share with us the reasons why they choose to help with the toy drive. Here’s what they said:

It’s so nice to see everyone’s faces and just give back in a different way than we do with the food. It brings so much joy for the people that come here for the gifts and they really appreciate it, sometimes they will give you a hug because they are so happy. And I’m just glad that they have this as a place where they can get a gift for their kids.

– Moira R., volunteer since 2022, 3rd year helping with the Toy Room

I love the faces of the children when they come in, and the parents get here so early and they are so excited. I had one client last year saying to me: “I just pray there’s a barbie doll,” and I said “You know what, I think you are good, there’s like a hundred barbies up there, you will get one that you’ll like.” She came down and she gave me the biggest hug because she got the barbie doll her daughter wanted.

The holidays are all about giving, helping others, and seeing the joy. When the parents are coming in and they are trying to surprise their kids, you just know that this is a worthy cause.

– Don S., volunteer since 2021, 3rd year helping with the Toy Room

ANNUAL TURKEY FUND UPDATE!

Nourishing Hope has distributed 10,260 holiday meats so far for 2024!

We appreciate everyone who helped us bring countless smiles on our clients’ faces this holiday season!

ON THE BLOG

Silver linings despite losing SNAP benefits

Before Melina W. visited Sheridan Market,

she’d been living without help from the

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

(SNAP) for months. Her benefits had been cut

in part because of her housing status.

In many ways she feels alone, but Melina

said she feels joy when she visits Nourishing

Hope. Her eyes lit up when she unpacked

her groceries outside the market on a recent

afternoon. Excited to see fresh breads and

vegetables, Melina said she likes to make

veggie stew because it lasts her a while. Learn

what gives Melina HOPE on our blog.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT — Michael Rangel, Manager of Social Services

Please welcome Michael Rangel, our new Manager of Social Services!

Michael Rangel (any pronouns) is a licensed clinical social worker, abolitionist, Aquarius-sun, and soon to be licensed dance/movement therapist.

Michael is excited to work collaboratively across sites and teams, and provide more outreach and comprehensive social services to our clients.

Previously, Michael has managed an expressive art therapy program, was case manager for an LGBTQIA+ clients, gallery manager for community-focused artists, trauma therapist, and social worker in a community mental health center.

He obtained his Masters of Social Work from Loyola University Chicago and a Masters of Arts in Critical Ethnic Studies and Women and Gender Studies from DePaul University.

In their free time, Michael loves to be with their dog, Scarlett, create mixed media art, do fun things with their besties, watch reality television, and continue dancing contemporary and modern.

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT — BRENDA H.

This month in the volunteer spotlight is an El Mercadito regular, Brenda H. Thank you SO much for your dedication, Brenda!

I first got involved with Nourishing Hope (then Lakeview Pantry) in 2020 during the pandemic. It was inspiring to see the work being done, especially given the immense need during that time.

Volunteering and helping those less fortunate has always been important to me; I’ve volunteered in other countries where kids’ only meal is a bowl of porridge each day. I’ve seen the effects of that hunger.

When I gained more free time in 2023, I started volunteering regularly at El Mercadito. It’s been a joy to get to know the other volunteers and the staff – they’re a really fun and interesting group of people and they make you feel like family. I enjoy being physically active unloading the trucks and stocking the shelves, and especially love interacting and shopping with the clients. The clients are so kind, often helping me with my Spanish, sharing some laughs, and always serving as a reminder to “not judge a book by its cover.”

SHOUTOUTS TO...

Ushus H. for getting the room set up for toy distribution at Sheridan!
Jasna M., Gordana C., and Genevieve Z. for doing a wonderful job getting through roughly 3.5 pallets of temperature control for safety items – and they were doing it for the first time!
Ryan R. for their incredible multitasking at the Hub!
The Bank of America and UIC volunteer groups who did an amazing job at HQ!
Chuck M., Javier P., and Jay B. who are amazing at helping staff coordinate groups at El Mercadito!

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS!

Caitlin A.

Annie A.

Samuel B.

Marla B.

Celia C.

Anjana D.

Brianne E.

Fernando E.

Noelle F.

Philip F.

Shelley F.

Mike G.

Jillian G.

Gabrielle G.

Dana G.

Jared G.

Elizabeth G.

Rebecca H.

Ruby H.

Esther H.

Kym H.

Dorene H.

Matthew J.

Kaitlin K.

Mimi L.

Adrian L.

Debra M.

Tyler M.

Tonya M.

Melinda P.

Kellie P.

Howard R.

Carole S.

Gabi S.

William T.

Joel T.

Pam W.

Jim W.

Robert Z.

VISIT OUR VOLUNTEER PAGE

Nourishing Hope

1716 W. Hubbard St.

Chicago, IL 60622

(773) 525-1777

www.nourishinghopechi.org

STAY CONNECTED